Article: Even though they're winning the New Orleans Saints can't catch Atlanta

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Even though they're winning the New Orleans Saints can't catch Atlanta

this is a discussion within the Saints Community Forum; Neither of those scenarios is unrealistic. Although the Falcons opened as 6½-point favorites in Las Vegas, this will be their third consecutive road game, and it's never easy for a team to travel across three time zones from one corner ...

Neither of those scenarios is unrealistic. Although the Falcons opened as 6½-point favorites in Las Vegas, this will be their third consecutive road game, and it's never easy for a team to travel across three time zones from one corner of the country to the other. Plus, Seattle is widely considered among the toughest places for visiting teams to play in the NFL.
As for the Saints, they've proven in the past that they can handle the underdog role just fine -- even though they haven't been in this situation since they beat both the odds and the Indianapolis Colts to win Super Bowl XLIV.
The Ravens (9-4) opened as 2½-point favorites Monday, before they played at the Houston Texans.

"This is a perfect situation for us. We like being the underdog, " Saints safety Darren Sharper said -- speaking both of Sunday's game and the way they've been hiding in the shadows for most of this season after struggling to a 4-3 start. "Hopefully we can continue to be the underdog. I think the way things are playing out, we might be. Having to go on the road is definitely going to put us as the underdog, and that's a situation we like and we kind of relish."
Coach Sean Payton used the point spread as a motivational tool before the Super Bowl, posting the odds on a grease board every day.
"His famous quote was, 'There's no better situation than to be the underdog and have the better team, '" Sharper recalled.
But Payton insisted that he won't be using the "underdog" tag for motivation this week.

He said point spreads aren't as big of a deal in this "fantasy football" age as they used to be, when the betting lines were routinely dissected during NFL pregame shows.

"Maybe there are games where you are more aware of that, " Payton said. "We know that we are playing a good team, a team that is playing with a lot of the same things at stake as we are. That's what we pay attention to."
Ever since the schedule was released in the spring, this December trip to Baltimore loomed as the toughest date on the Saints' schedule.
For one, the Ravens are one of the most complete teams in the NFL, with a punishing defense and a balanced offense. Although veterans such as linebacker Ray Lewis and safety Ed Reed are no longer in their prime, they are still among the best in the league.

"We have a lot of respect for Baltimore, " Payton said. "Clearly they are one of those teams that have been an elite AFC team, a team that plays extremely physical on defense. Offensively, they have the ability to run and throw. It's a real good challenge for us."

The weather conditions also could challenge the Saints, though the forecast is relatively mild for Baltimore in mid-December. The early forecast calls for a high of 35 degrees with a chance of light snow showers -- very similar to what the Saints faced during their 34-30 victory at Cincinnati on Dec. 5.

Isn't the second tie breaker conference record? So if we both lose this week, then we win out, won't we be tied at 12-4 but they would have 3 NFC losses to our 2? Am I wrong, or did that writer forget Seattle's in the NFC now?

1. Head-to-head
2. Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the division.
3. Best won-lost-tied percentage in common games.
4. Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the conference.
5. Strength of victory.
6. Strength of schedule.

We've lost to Cards and Browns, they beat both teams. We beat Pitt, who they lost to. So we lose the Common Games tiebreaker 2-1.

1. Head-to-head
2. Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the division.
3. Best won-lost-tied percentage in common games.
4. Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the conference.
5. Strength of victory.
6. Strength of schedule.

We've lost to Cards and Browns, they beat both teams. We beat Pitt, who they lost to. So we lose the Common Games tiebreaker 2-1.

But, if they lose to Seattle that means the Common Games tiebreaker is 2-2 since we beat Seattle. It then goes to Conference Games, which we win.

But, if they lose to Seattle that means the Common Games tiebreaker is 2-2 since we beat Seattle. It then goes to Conference Games, which we win.

That implies Saints and Falcons finishing with the same record so lets run that through to its conclusion
Week 15 SEA Beats Falcons. Falcons 11 -3
Saints beat Ravens Saints 11-3

Falcons play Saints Week 16 one team is 12-3 one team is 11-4
If Saints win Week 16 they have to lose to Tampa and Carolina loses to Atlanta for both to finish 12-4
Falcons own that tiebreaker and win the division

or Saints beat Ravens, lose to Falcons and beat Bucs finish 12-4
Falcons lose to Seattle beat Saints and lose to Carolina finish 12-4
Falcons own head to head.

That implies Saints and Falcons finishing with the same record so lets run that through to its conclusion
Week 15 SEA Beats Falcons. Falcons 11 -3
Saints beat Ravens Saints 11-3

Falcons play Saints Week 16 one team is 12-3 one team is 11-4
If Saints win Week 16 they have to lose to Tampa and Carolina loses to Atlanta for both to finish 12-4
Falcons own that tiebreaker and win the division

or Saints beat Ravens, lose to Falcons and beat Bucs finish 12-4
Falcons lose to Seattle beat Saints and lose to Carolina finish 12-4
Falcons own head to head.

The 13-3 scenario works best for me, home field or not. We match our regular season record from last year (great accomplishment given the Superbowl slump and all) and go into the post season on a long winning streak with a fresh win over the Falcons who we may have to crush again on our way to Dallas.